The influence of different methods of cropping and weed control on the content and uptake of Fe and Mn by dent maize

Strip cropping is a form of intercropping in which two or more species of plants are grown in adjacent strips. Strips should be wide enough for independent mechanical cultivation, but sufficiently narrow to allow for interaction between species. This may affect not only the size and structure of yield, but also the chemical composition of the plants. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of strip cropping and different weed control methods on the content of iron and manganese and uptake by dent maize. The study was conducted on a private farm in the village of Frankamionka in the district of Zamooeæ. It was run from 2004 to 2006. It consisted of a field experiment established on soil with an average Fe and Mn content. The experimental factors were two methods of cultivation: sole cropping and strip cropping (common bean, dent maize, and spring wheat in adjacent strips), and three methods of weed control: mechanical (inter-row cultivation applied twice), mechanical-chemical (the herbicide Gesaprim 90 WG 1.5 kg ha–1 + single inter-row cultivation), and chemical (the herbicides Gesaprim 90 WG 1.5 kg ha–1 + Milagro 040 SC 1.5 L ha–1). Maize was grown for silage and harvested at the milky-wax stage. Iron and manganese in the dry matter of maize were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) after digestion in HNO3 (extra pure) in accordance with PN EN ISO 6869:2002. On average for the experiment, strip cropping of maize with common beans and spring wheat increased the iron and manganese content in maize crop in comparison with sole cropping. The Fe and Mn content varied depending on the position of a row in strip cropping. Location adjacent to beans was more conducive to iron accumulation in maize, but reduced the manganese content. Strip cropping significantly increased the uptake of both iron and manganese by maize. The iron content was the highest where mechanical weed control was applied, while manganese was the highest where herbicides alone were used. The uptake of iron and manganese was the highest under the chemical weed control method. The results confirm the impact of strip cropping on the uptake of these minerals by maize and their content in the maize.